Governor Strickland proposes to fill Ohio's $3.2 billion shortfall in the state budget by eliminating $200+ million from the Public Library Fund over the next two years. His proposal will have a drastic impact on all 251 public libraries in Ohio and on Columbus Metropolitan Library in particular.

This proposal by the Governor cuts library funding by 50% beginning July 1, 2009.

We only have days to have an impact.

1. Today, contact your legislators. We've made it easy to do. Go to:
ColumbusLibrary.org

2. Call Governor Strickland's office at 614-466-3555.

The Governor's proposed funding cuts come at a time when Ohio's public libraries are experiencing unprecedented increases in demands for services. In every community throughout the state, Ohioans are turning to their public library for free job help, children and teens are beginning summer reading programs and people of all ages are turning to the library for information and assistance during this economic downturn. That is no truer than here at CML. We cannot allow these cuts to succeed, cuts which will drastically reduce services and access. Act now.

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This is NOT okay you guys. Libraries are a vital part of helping to educate children. Many of these libraries have after school programs to help keep kids off the streets, and safe.

Libraries provide extended learning opportunities for adults as well, this helps keep literacy up and unemployment down.

Please, I beg of you, if you live in Ohio, Contact our legislators by going to ColumbusLibrary.org or calling Governor Strickland's office at 614-466-3555.

If you aren't from Ohio, I ask you to do what you can anyways, and if you know ANYONE from ohio, please spread the news along. Please refer them to this journal or ColumbusLibrary.org .

Acting today, could save our education for tomorrow.